Desert Hearts

Vivian Bell, a literature professor from New York, arrives in Reno, Nevada, to obtain a quick divorce. She takes a room at a ranch run by Frances Parker and intends to spend the required waiting period alone with her work, keeping to herself in the desert surroundings. Her plans change when she meets Cay Rivvers, Frances's free-spirited stepdaughter, who works at a casino and lives openly as a lesbian despite Frances's disapproval. A cautious, reserved woman ten years Cay's senior, Vivian at first resists her growing attraction, then gives in to it, unsettling the life she had carefully controlled.

Donna Deitch directed and produced the film, working from a screenplay by Natalie Cooper. It was her first feature as director. Helen Shaver plays Vivian and Patricia Charbonneau plays Cay, with Audra Lindley as Frances, Andra Akers as Silver, Gwen Welles as Gwen and Dean Butler as Darrell; the credited cast runs to 26 performers.

Made for about 1 million dollars, the film returned roughly twice that amount worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.1 out of 10 from around 8,400 votes, and on TMDB it also stands at 7.1 out of 10, from 181 votes. A critics' rating of 7 out of 10 from 92 reviews places it close to the audience scores.